I'm your lesson assistant. Ask me to explain any concept, drill you on the grammar, or give you extra practice for what you're studying right now.
Shared by Colombia Conversa learners and visitors. Every submission is reviewed before publication.
Loading approved comments…
You are at the counter of a trendy cafe in Bogota's Zona G. You have just finished a latte and a slice of cake - un cafe con leche y una torta - and the waiter brings the bill: $18,500 pesos. You reach for your wallet, pull out a card, and the waiter shakes his head gently: "Disculpe, solo efectivo." (Sorry, cash only.) You check your wallet: a single 50,000-peso bill. He grimaces: "Uy, ¿no tiene sencillo?" You do not. He calls to the kitchen: "¡Mijo, ¿hay cambio de cincuenta?" A voice calls back: "No hay." The waiter turns to you and says: "¿Tiene Nequi?" You stare at him. Nequi?
Colombia está en medio de una revolucion de pagos digitales. (Colombia is in the middle of a digital payments revolution.) And if you do not understand the new landscape, you will get stuck at counters like this one.
In this lesson, you will learn every payment method used in Colombia - from cash and cards to the mobile apps that have transformed how Colombians handle money - along with the banking vocabulary you need to open an account, use an ATM, and talk about money with confidence.
Colombia operates in three payment ecosystems simultaneously, and understanding all three is essential.
Efectivo (Cash): Still king in many contexts. Street vendors, tiendas de barrio, taxi drivers, and small restaurants often accept only cash. The phrase "Solo efectivo" (cash only) is one you will hear regularly.
Tarjeta (Card): Credit and debit cards are accepted in malls, chain restaurants, supermarkets, and most mid-to-upscale establishments. The card reader is called a datáfono.
Pagos digitales (Digital Payments): Nequi and Daviplata have exploded across Colombia. These mobile wallet apps let you send money instantly with just a phone number. Many businesses now accept them - even some street vendors.
| Method | Spanish Term | Where Accepted | Key Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | efectivo | Everywhere | "Pago en efectivo" |
| Debit card | tarjeta débito | Most formal businesses | "Con tarjeta débito, por favor" |
| Credit card | tarjeta de crédito | Malls, restaurants, hotels | "¿Aceptan tarjeta de crédito?" |
| Nequi | Nequi | Growing rapidly | "¿Recibe Nequi?" |
| Daviplata | Daviplata | Growing rapidly | "¿Puedo pagar con Daviplata?" |
| Bank transfer | transferencia / PSE | Online purchases | "Pago por PSE" |
ATMs in Colombia are called cajeros automáticos or just cajeros. They are everywhere - in banks, malls, convenience stores, and on street corners. Here is the vocabulary that appears on every screen:
| Screen Text | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ingrese su tarjeta | Insert your card |
| Digite su clave | Enter your PIN |
| Seleccione una opción | Select an option |
| Retiro | Withdrawal |
| Consulta de saldo | Balance inquiry |
| Transferencia | Transfer |
| Cuenta corriente | Checking account |
| Cuenta de ahorros | Savings account |
| Monto | Amount |
| Confirmar | Confirm |
| Cancelar | Cancel (not "charge") |
| Retire su tarjeta y su dinero | Take your card and money |
Using a Cajero Automático
You find a Bancolombia ATM near your apartment. You insert your card. The screen says: "Bienvenido. Digite su clave." You enter your PIN. Next screen: "Seleccione el tipo de cuenta: Cuenta corriente / Cuenta de ahorros." You tap Cuenta de ahorros (savings). Then: "Seleccione operación: Retiro / Consulta de saldo / Transferencia." You tap Retiro. "Ingrese el monto." You type 200,000. "¿Desea recibo? Sí / No." You tap Sí. The machine whirs and dispenses four 50,000-peso bills. "Retire su tarjeta y su dinero. Gracias por usar Bancolombia."
When you pay by card in Colombia, there is a specific interaction pattern. The datáfono (card reader/POS terminal) is central.
Paying by Card at a Restaurant
The waiter brings the bill: "Aquí tiene la cuenta. Son cuarenta y dos mil quinientos." (Here is the bill. It is 42,500.) You say: "Con tarjeta, por favor." The waiter brings the datáfono and asks: "¿Débito o crédito?" You respond: "Débito." He asks: "¿Una sola cuota?" (One installment?) You say: "Sí, una cuota." He hands you the terminal: "Ingrese su clave, por favor." You enter your PIN. The machine beeps. He tears off the receipt: "Aquí tiene su comprobante. Muchas gracias."
The installment question - ¿A cuántas cuotas? - is uniquely Colombian. When paying with a credit card, the cashier will almost always ask how many installments you want to split the payment into. This is called diferir the payment. Options might be 1, 3, 6, 12, or even 24 monthly payments - cuotas. If you want to pay in full, say "Una sola cuota" or simply "Sin cuotas" (without installments).
Whether you are opening an account, visiting a bank branch, or talking about finances, these terms form the core of Colombian banking language.
| Spanish | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| banco | bank | "Necesito ir al banco" |
| sucursal | branch | "¿Dónde queda la sucursal más cercana?" |
| cuenta de ahorros | savings account | Most common account type |
| cuenta corriente | checking account | For businesses, some individuals |
| extracto | bank statement | Monthly summary of transactions |
| consignación | deposit | "Hice una consignación de doscientos mil" |
| retiro | withdrawal | At ATMs or bank counters |
| transferencia | transfer | Between accounts |
| saldo | balance | "¿Cuál es mi saldo?" |
| intereses | interest | On savings or loans |
| préstamo | loan | "Solicitar un préstamo" |
| cédula | national ID | Required for all banking |
Bancolombia and Davivienda are the largest and most foreigner-friendly. Both offer Nequi/Daviplata integration.
You need: passport, cédula de extranjería (foreign ID) or visa, proof of address (certificado de residencia or utility bill), and sometimes proof of income.
Go to a sucursal and say: "Buenos días. Quiero abrir una cuenta de ahorros." (Good morning. I want to open a savings account.) Bring all documents - they will photocopy everything.
Colombian Spanish uses specific verbs for money actions. Some are straightforward, others have nuances that trip up learners.
| Verb | Meaning | Colombian Usage |
|---|---|---|
| pagar | to pay | "¿Dónde pago?" (Where do I pay?) |
| cobrar | to charge | "¿Cuánto me cobra?" (How much are you charging me?) |
| deber | to owe | "¿Cuánto le debo?" (How much do I owe you?) |
| ahorrar | to save | "Estoy ahorrando para un viaje" |
| gastar | to spend | "Gasté mucho este mes" |
| prestar | to lend | "¿Me presta diez mil?" (Can you lend me 10,000?) |
| cancelar | to pay/settle | "¿Dónde cancelo?" (Where do I pay?) - Colombian usage |
| consignar | to deposit | "Necesito consignar en mi cuenta" |
| retirar | to withdraw | "Quiero retirar trescientos mil" |
Notice cancelar again - in stores and restaurants, it means "to pay" or "to settle." "¿Dónde cancelo?" is one of the most common phrases you will hear in Colombian shops.
If you shop online in Colombia or pay utility bills, you will encounter PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea). This is a direct bank transfer system - Colombia's equivalent of Interac or iDEAL.
When checking out online:
The phrase you will see: "Pago exitoso" (Payment successful) or "Transacción aprobada" (Transaction approved).
Daily Actions for This Week
Monday-Tuesday: Memorize the ATM screen vocabulary. Visualize yourself at a Colombian cajero and walk through each step aloud in Spanish: "Ingreso mi tarjeta, digito mi clave, selecciono retiro..."
Wednesday-Thursday: Practice the card payment dialogue from Section 3. Focus on the installment question - say "Una sola cuota" until it is automatic. Also practice "¿Debito o credito?" and responding naturally.
Friday: Learn the money verbs in Section 5. Create five sentences about your own finances using pagar, gastar, ahorrar, deber, and retirar.
Weekend: Download the Nequi app (it is available internationally for exploration even without a Colombian account) and explore the interface. Notice how many Colombian terms you can now recognize.
Fill out forms, provide your cédula number, sign documents. The process takes 30-60 minutes. They will ask: "¿Cuenta de ahorros o cuenta corriente?" Most foreigners need cuenta de ahorros.